Holiday shopping chaos may drive many shoppers away

Published: Tuesday, December 3, 2013 at 12:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, December 2, 2013 at 2:18 p.m.

In addition to the punching, pushing and pulling, there is also some twisted irony associated with holiday shopping nightmares.

The incentives to bring large numbers into big-box stores may likely drive many away, at least the sane ones who have more regard for their safety than saving a few bucks.

There were horror stories across the country last week.

According to news reports, a fight broke out over a TV at a Walmart store in Elkin. The fracas was captured on phone video by actor and filmmaker Brian Spain, who lives in the Bronx. Prior to the scuffle, Spain said he was marveling at how peaceful everyone was. The 33-year-old New Yorker is an actor and filmmaker who wanted to interview people about shopping on Thanksgiving, which he opposes. He said Walmart workers threatened to kick him out of the store or have him arrested for trespassing.

Spain likely learned that animalistic instincts and gang mentalities are not limited to the North.

At a Walmart in Garfield, N.J., police arrested a woman for spitting at another woman and hitting her child instead, Capt. Darren Sucorowski said in a statement. A man screaming vulgarities in the same store also was arrested.

Some of the guilty parties may also have been the same ones who, prior to the holiday, posted on Facebook about being thankful for the things they already have.

In fairness to Walmart, we should mention that people flock to such large retailers — Target, Sears, etc. — in order to buy an array of items on a day when shopping and parking are a challenge. And when a crowd gathers, there's always a few who have already had too much to drink — even in the morning hours.

Also, Walmart, which is well aware of safety issues after an employee was trampled to death in a 2008 Black Friday melee in Valley Stream, N.Y., has beefed up security at its stores around such holidays.

The National Retail Federation issued crowd management guidelines, urging stores to prepare for flash mobs, long lines of angry customers and crowded washrooms.

If we're lucky, locally owned and independent businesses will survive a few more years, and because of the aforementioned, that's where holiday shoppers will turn in the future, rather than deal with the chaos.

In response to the retail mob scene, more social network posters stated they have turned exclusively to shopping on the Internet. Did you miss Cyber Monday?

The term Black Friday is very appropriate. Black and Blue Friday, even more so.

<p>In addition to the punching, pushing and pulling, there is also some twisted irony associated with holiday shopping nightmares.</p><p>The incentives to bring large numbers into big-box stores may likely drive many away, at least the sane ones who have more regard for their safety than saving a few bucks.</p><p>There were horror stories across the country last week.</p><p>According to news reports, a fight broke out over a TV at a Walmart store in Elkin. The fracas was captured on phone video by actor and filmmaker Brian Spain, who lives in the Bronx. Prior to the scuffle, Spain said he was marveling at how peaceful everyone was. The 33-year-old New Yorker is an actor and filmmaker who wanted to interview people about shopping on Thanksgiving, which he opposes. He said Walmart workers threatened to kick him out of the store or have him arrested for trespassing.</p><p>Spain likely learned that animalistic instincts and gang mentalities are not limited to the North.</p><p>At a Walmart in Garfield, N.J., police arrested a woman for spitting at another woman and hitting her child instead, Capt. Darren Sucorowski said in a statement. A man screaming vulgarities in the same store also was arrested.</p><p>Some of the guilty parties may also have been the same ones who, prior to the holiday, posted on Facebook about being thankful for the things they already have.</p><p>In fairness to Walmart, we should mention that people flock to such large retailers — Target, Sears, etc. — in order to buy an array of items on a day when shopping and parking are a challenge. And when a crowd gathers, there's always a few who have already had too much to drink — even in the morning hours.</p><p>Also, Walmart, which is well aware of safety issues after an employee was trampled to death in a 2008 Black Friday melee in Valley Stream, N.Y., has beefed up security at its stores around such holidays.</p><p>The National Retail Federation issued crowd management guidelines, urging stores to prepare for flash mobs, long lines of angry customers and crowded washrooms. </p><p>If we're lucky, locally owned and independent businesses will survive a few more years, and because of the aforementioned, that's where holiday shoppers will turn in the future, rather than deal with the chaos.</p><p>In response to the retail mob scene, more social network posters stated they have turned exclusively to shopping on the Internet. Did you miss Cyber Monday?</p><p>The term Black Friday is very appropriate. Black and Blue Friday, even more so.</p>